Newswise — NEW YORK, NY, March 5, 2025—Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is proud to announce a new community mural, “One Hundred Views,” by artist Naomi Reis. The inaugural MSK mural was created in collaboration with fifth-grade students from P.S. 183 Robert L. Stevenson Elementary School, the neighboring school on East 66th Street. This mural was produced by ArtBridge, a public art nonprofit, and MSK, with support and guidance from P.S.183, Community Board 8, and the Office of Council Member Julie Menin.
The artist and the students rendered imagery of plants, trees, local landmarks, and architectural details, creating a rich and personal tapestry of the community the students call home. The artwork is proudly displayed on portions of East 66th Street, York Avenue, and 67th Streets surrounding MSK’s Cancer Care Pavilion project. Currently, under construction, The MSK Pavilion will be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified full-service facility built entirely within MSK’s existing footprint, devoted to ensuring greater access to cancer care and meeting the needs of New Yorkers and people from around the globe.
“We are deeply grateful to the fifth-grade students at P.S. 183 and Ms. Reis, who worked on this beautiful artwork surrounding our MSK facility, said Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, President and CEO of Memorial Sloan Kettering. “We are fortunate to have such wonderful talent in our community. MSK takes pride in being part of this local ecosystem that builds a more connected, caring, and resilient community for all.”
Capturing the Beauty of the Local Upper East Side Community
Artist Naomi Reis is a transcultural visual artist who looks for ephemeral moments of beauty and magic in everyday life. Using simple materials of paper, fabric, blades, and brushes, her work is rooted in folk traditions of craftmaking found in home workshops around the world. As it relates to this current mural, “One Hundred Views” is a reference to the 100 views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai; which is a way of combining her cultural heritage with this project’s perspectives on the neighborhood’s public spaces; and also giving the installation a bit of her own cultural gravitas.
“Working with the students was eye-opening for me — getting to see the world through their perspective, understanding their interests and personalities through the art they developed,” said Ms. Reis. “To make the mural, I wove together pieces of their paintings with my abstracted photos. We created an imagined landscape that represents their community. My hope is that seeing their work in public at this large scale imparts the idea that they have agency to impact the world.”
“We are proud of the artwork our fifth-grade students created for the mural,” said Martin Woodard, Principal of P.S. 183. “Their work showcases their NYC community, and through this project, they recognize the impact their art can have on others.”
Making a Difference in Our Neighborhood
ArtBridge’s community exhibitions have provided unprecedented exposure for hundreds of artists and covered more than 60,000 square feet of public space. New York City Council Member Julie Menin proposed the ArtBridge installation.
“The Art Bridge mural reflects our shared commitment to prioritizing safety for our students at P.S. 183 and quality of life for the community. This aesthetic component is complemented by the numerous community investments and construction mitigation measures that will benefit P.S. 183 and the East Side of Manhattan,” said NYC Council Member Julie Menin. “Unveiling today’s beautification project reaffirms our dedication to protecting and supporting our youngest residents while advancing the critical healthcare infrastructure spearheaded by MSK.”
“Community Board 8 is delighted that the schoolchildren of P.S.183 have created beautiful artworks to be exhibited on the Memorial Sloan Kettering’s construction fence,” said Valerie Mason, Chair of Community Board 8. “CB8 and its Arts Committee is supportive of art in public spaces and we are proud of our young artists “in residence” and thank them for brightening up this transitional space.”
“We are thrilled to showcase this brilliant collaboration between Naomi Kawanishi Reis and 5th graders at P.S. 183. ArtBridge’s goal is not only to beautify the City’s 300+ miles of construction fencing — we want to showcase local artists while exploring and celebrating themes and cultures specific to each exhibition’s neighborhood,” said Stephen Pierson, Executive Director of ArtBridge. “Thanks to MSK’s support, along with Community Board 8 and local officials, we are extremely proud of how this mural turned out.”
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About Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe. One of the world’s most respected comprehensive centers devoted exclusively to cancer, we have been recognized as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years. www.mskcc.org
